IT'S NOW LEGAL TO SMOKE MARIJUANA IN PORTLAND. WELL, NOT TECHNICALLY. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY'LL STILL CITE PEOPLE FOR POSSESSING MARIJUANA UNDER FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS. WMTW NEWS 8'S SHERNAY WILLIAMS IS LIVE IN PORTLAND WITH MORE ON WHAT IMPACT THE NEW POT ORDINANCE MAY HAVE ON THE CITY. AS FAR AS THE IMPACT THIS MARIJUANA ORDINANCE WILL HAVELAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND EVEN SMOKE SHOP MANAGERS SAYNOT MUCH. SOME FOLKS LIT UP A BIG ONE WHEN PORTLAND VOTERS SAID "YES" TO LEGALIZING MARIJUANA LAST MONTH. Nats BUT NOW THAT THE POT ORDINANCE HAS OFFICIALLY TAKEN EFFECT JACOB MACKINNON OF BLAZIN ACE SAYS HE DOESN'T EXPECT A BIG CHANGE AT HIS BUSINESS. 00:04:58 I don't think legalization or decriminalization or any of this is going to change the amount of people that are already smoking." I think those people will just be able to go about their business as normal law abiding citizens." 05:11 AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL STILL TREAT MARIJUANA POSSESSION AS A CIVIL OFFENSE. Sheriff Kevin joyce 00:01:31 "it isn't going to change how we do business." 01:33 MAYOR MICHAEL BRENNAN 00:00:59 we expect them to continue to show discretion in the context of the ordinance and state and federal law." 01:05 MARIJUANA ORDINACE SUPPORTERS SAY THAT'S THE PROBLEM. 00:03:11 Right now it's important that city officials stop citing and punishing adults for possessing marijuana after the vote. If they don't then I think the voters of the city deserve and explanation at why they are thumbing their nose at voters." 03:24 UNDER THE ORDINANCE, ADULTS AGE 21 AND OVER CAN POSSESS FEWER THAN 2 POINT 5 OUNCES OF POT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. BUT THERE'S A BIG LOOP HOLE ACCORDING TO SHERIFF JOYCE THAT'S CAUSING CONFUSION. 00:05:56 You make it legal but you can't acquire it without violating the law." 05:59 THAT'S WHY MACKINNON CALLS THE ORDINANCE MORE SYMBOLIC THAN ANYTHING AND A FIRST STEP TOWARDS WHAT HE HOPES WILL BE STATE LEGALIZATION. Jacob00:04:37 as much as it's a feel good law and it doesn't have that much backbone, I think it's good to see people came out to vote and show that Portland wants to see some change of some sort." 04:49 AND THE MARIJUANA ORDINANCE ALSO SAYS THE MAYOR MUST GIVE A YEARLY UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE ORDINANCE. MAYOR BRENNAN SAYS HE EXPECTS HIS FIRST REPORT TO SHOW A STEADY DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF MARIJUANA CITATIONS. LIVE IN PORTLAND, SW, WMTW NEWS 8.